Ella's Sitting Up!!!

Ella starting sitting up on her own this weekend while we were in TN. She's pretty good at it as long as she doesn't get to much to one side or the other or too much to the back. She's very proud of herself. She's a monkey. Here's a little video of her sitting up tonight after her bath. She's does pretty well and she's enjoying chewing on her brush. It looks like she's propped up against the pillow, but she's not. She's sitting up on her own. Hope you enjoy.

6 Months Old!!

So I'm a terrible mother. I didn't post on her 6 month birthday. I think I'm in denial that she's 6 months old. Half a year has gone by since she came into our lives and I can barely remember what it was like before she was here. She can roll over both ways now and is trying to sit up on her own. She eating baby food now and her favorite is carrots and sweet potatoes. She's the light of our lives. I'll post some pictures at the end of the post.


We're going to TN next weekend to see Jon's parents. We were going to go this weekend, but the threat of snow and dangerous weather scared us away. They were supposed to get about 6 inches.....they got 1/4 of an inch. Isn't that always the way!! I'm excited to go. It's always nice to get up there to see everyone.


Here are some pictures of the bug!! Happy Half Birthday Baby Girl!!!


Ella 1 Hour Old


Ella 6 Months Old

It's Been a While

It's been a while since I posted. Lots of stuff going on. We went to Kelley's for Christmas. We had so much fun. Ella's Christmas was wonderful and we all really enjoyed being together. Right now I'm sick. Thankfully Jon and Ella haven't contracted whatever virus I have and I hope that they don't because I feel terrible. Ella is growing like a weed. She's getting bigger every day. She's rolling over all the time, just from her back to her stomach. She's only gone from her belly to her back once. Now when she gets on her stomach she gets really mad. Whenever you lay her down on her back she immediantly flips over. It's so cute.

When I put her down for her nap today I layed her on her tummy for the first time to sleep. It made me a nervous wreck and I checked on her every 5 minutes, but she seemed to really like it. She slept for about 3 1/2 hours straight for her nap. Amazing! We may be doing the tummy sleeping for every nap.

I'm going to try to get better about posting more regularly. Things have just been so hectic. I don't even know if anyone reads this. That's ok if no one does. I really do this more for me, so I can remember what goes on in our lives. If you read the blog, leave a comment for me so I know you're reading. It's nice to know if someone's out there.

Recent Accomplishments

It's been a while since I posted and several exciting things have happened. Ella had her shots last Thursday, which was not fun, but she was a very brave girl and only cried for about 1 minute. Then she smiled at everyone and was fine. Later that day she rolled over from her belly to her back. She is SO close to rolling over from her back to her belly. She just can't get that one arm out of her way. The doctor gave us the go ahead to start veggies. Ella is now loving her sweet potatoes with her cereal at night. She also loves to blow raspberries, preferably when she has a mouth full of sweet potatoes and can get them all over mommy. She is teething like crazy. I bet we'll have a tooth in a couple more weeks. Last night she started sticking her tongue out and putting it behind her bottom lip. Jon says she looks like a little old man with his dentures out. She also loves to hold onto your fingers and stand up.

Here are her stats from the last doctor's visit:

Weight: a little over 15 lbs. --- 60th percentile

Length: 26.5 inches --- 95th percentile (she's very tall for her age)

We went to Birmingham on Saturday to see Mimi and Granddaddy and to get some Christmas shopping done. Ella loved seeing them both. She had a great time. Only 2 weeks until Christmas!!!!

Here are a few cute pictures of the monkey!

Happy Birthday Hannah!!

Hannah turned 1 year old on Friday, November 30th! I can't believe it's been a whole year. She is such a joy and a blessing. I don't remember what our lives were like before Miss Hannah Grace made her appearance. I can't wait for her and Ella to be the best of friends. I have a feeling that Amy and I are going to have our hands full.

Happy Birthday sweet Hannah. Auntie Rae loves you very very much!!

Stuff I’m Thankful For:

As the holiday season approaches we all become a little more sentimental and think of the things that we are most thankful for. I decided to make a list of the people and things I’m most thankful for and why. Sometimes I think it’s good to sit down and think of all the wonderful things and people you have in your life and stop thinking about all the negative things. We all have our problems, but if you’re one of the lucky people who woke up this morning, had food to eat for breakfast, a roof over your head, and someone to tell you they love you…..you’re luckier than most. Here’s my list of what and whom I’m most thankful for.

After the first 6 they are in no particular order. This is not a ranking list.

1.) Jesus Christ because he was born and died for my sins so that one day I can live with him for eternity in Heaven.
2.) Jon – You are my soul mate and the love of my life. I love the fact that I will wake up next to you every day for the rest of my life
3.) Ella – You are my sunshine. I never knew how much my heart could hold until you were born.
4.) My Parents – You loved me unconditionally and always taught me to remember WHO I am and WHO’S I am.
5.) My Sister - You are my best friend and I look up to you more than you will ever know. I hope that I can be half as good of a mother as you are.
6.) My In-Laws – Thanks for being so great and not being crazy. Some people have horror stories about their in-laws being nuts, but mine happen to be pretty great.
7.) Leslie – You are my partner in crime and the costar in all my best stories. My life would be boring with out you in it.
8.) Amy – We are so different in so many ways, but alike in the ways that count. Thanks for always being there for me.
9.) Wendy – I’m so glad that you and Andy moved down here. You are a great friend and a wonderful mom. I look forward to many play dates with our kiddos.
10.) Charlie – You crack me up. Thank you for being such a good friend to Jon and to me.
11.) Andy – You are a great friend and so thoughtful.
12.) Jason – I’m so glad that you live so close. Even though are initially meeting was painfully quiet because you wouldn’t hardly talk to me, now you are one of my best friends. Actually, you’re the brother I never had. Don’t leave for that long again!!
13.) Tom, Regina, & Amber – I could never have picked a better place in a million years to work. You have been so good to me and my family. You are such wonderful friends and I could never say thank you enough for all you do for us.
14.) Lori – You are so precious. I pray for you continuously. You and Drew deserve good things. I know it’s just around the corner!!
15.) The Johnson Family – You are family and I love you. Thank you for always looking out for me when I did stupid stuff.
16.) I’m thankful that I have a roof over my head, food to eat, clothes to wear, and a car to drive.
17.) I’m thankful that Jon and I prepared the way so that I could stay home with my Ella.
18.) Dave Ramsey – Sometimes I would like to kill you, but most of the time I’m thankful for your wisdom. Your plan has made a world of difference in our lives and in our marriage. We no longer fight about money.
19.) I’m thankful that Jon has a job that has good health insurance or we’d be in the poor house.
20.) I’m thankful that, while I’m not in the best health, I can get up in the morning and do what I need to do and that I lead a normal life (whatever normal is)
21.) I’m thankful that I was able to go to a reproductive endocrinologist to help us have Ella.
22.) I’m thankful for all the family and friends that I didn’t mention here. Our lives are enhanced by the different people that are in it.

Thanksgiving in TN

It's been a while since I posted. We had such a wonderful time in TN. We always enjoy going up there for Thanksgiving. It was smaller this year with everyone scattered around. Cathy was in Florida with Leslie, Phil, and little miss Ady and they were greatly missed. We did get to see Rick, Lindsey, Jakey, and Jason. Lindsey is pregnant and is due close to Ella's first birthday. Poor Zack has mono so he was banished to his room almost the whole time. He did spend some time with us, but mostly he felt really icky.

Ella had a great Thanksgiving. She got to see Aunt Ruth and Uncle Bob. She had a great time with her Mamaw, Papaw, and Auntie Brenda. She also ate rice cereal for the first time. She is sort of getting the hang of it. She's does pretty well...she's just not used to the whole spoon thing yet. I'm including some pics of her first time eating it.

Me and Leslie got to see each other. Emme is getting so big. We got more of our Christmas shopping done. I have one more thing to get Ella and then I will be finished with her stuff.

I'm working on a Thanksgiving themed post that I started on a few weeks ago and I never finished. Check back later and maybe I'll have time to get it done.

Here's some pics of the monkey.